Council approves first step toward reducing parade requirements

Published 3:13 pm, Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders greet Mayor Wes Perry Tuesday morning as he makes his way to the city council chambers for the scheduled meeting. Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders greet Mayor Wes Perry Tuesday morning as he makes his way to the city council chambers for the scheduled meeting. Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Tim Fischer

Council approves first step toward reducing parade requirements

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Despite the various members and supporters of the Patriot Guard Riders in attendance at Tuesday's City Council meeting, the agenda did not include an accommodation for the riders' needs, but rather the "first step" toward lessening special event requirements.

The council unanimously approved the authorization for the City Attorney's Office to obtain automobile and general liability insurance through the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool.

"That (the insurance) would potentially reduce the city's exposure in certain negligence claims that might be brought against the city," said John Ohnemiller, first assistant city attorney.

Ohnemiller said the limit for each policy will be $1 million and the deductible will be $50,000, but those figures could change during the city's next budgeting process.

Previously, the city was self-insured, which allowed the city to save money that otherwise would have been spent on premiums, said Mayor Wes Perry after the council meeting. He said it was a good business decision to go the self-insured route but now is the time to buy insurance.

"Anytime you buy insurance, you have to think if that's the right way to go or do you just take the risk and have money in the checking account," Perry said. "I think this one is the right way to go."

Perry told those in attendance that the city has to first buy insurance from TML, which could lead to reduced insurance requirements for special event permit applicants.

Before the council voted, about 10 PGR members and supporters spoke publicly about how they honor veterans who have been wounded or killed, and that insurance companies will not cover them because of the requirement for spectators and participants.

One rider who spoke to the council said he and other bikers ride for those who have died, including friends in Vietnam. He and others in attendance were moved to tears.

Teresa Galloway, PGR deputy state captain, began her public comment by thanking veterans for serving their country. She then said the new special event ordinance -- approved by the council on March 1 in response to the train wreck -- is time- and cost-prohibitive for them to continue escorting veterans when they arrive in Midland.

"Why does a nonprofit have to buy insurance for the city of Midland?" Galloway asked the council.

Later in the meeting, Galloway said that before March 1, all the riders had to do was call the Sheriff's Office for an escort. She said PGR kept the wounded soldiers and the bikers themselves safe. In response, Perry said Galloway was right and the city was not really following the process before March 1.

"No one's really enforced, very closely, that situation," Perry said.

Sandy Dunlap, a member of PGR and Veterans of Foreign Wars, told the Reporter-Telegram after the meeting that the city should exempt PGR from the insurance requirement because the bikers are traveling from point A to point B and do not slow down traffic as a parade does.

"We are not a parade," Dunlap said. "We're just honoring veterans."

The mayor moved this item -- No. 33 on the agenda -- to the beginning of the meeting and allowed people to speak for almost an hour, even though it was not part of the public comment or public hearing.

"When you get an event like this, I just wanted to give everybody a chance to talk, those that took off from their jobs," Perry said. "They're very passionate about what they do and the council clearly, me particularly, don't want to hinder anything they want to do. We want to honor the vets."

Right before the council approved the automobile and general liability insurance, Perry told Galloway that the group should apply for a permit and a waiver, which will then be considered at the next City Council meeting, set for April 9. On that day, the council also could consider changes to the special event insurance policy.

Going forward, Perry said the city is going to find that balance between good parades and safe parades. He said he feels confident the city and its residents will get to that point.

"This is a classic example of -- we thought -- we had no idea really what the cost of insurance would be," Perry said. "It's something that happened that we're going to be able to fix. We heard about it pretty quickly and I think we responded appropriately."